Mato just raised pre-seed Read more
Podcast charts
Published by Lauren Gunderson
Hosted by award-winning playwright Lauren M. Gunderson (author of I and You, Silent Sky, The Book of Will and fifteen other published plays and musicals), How to Playwright is an exuberant long form discussion of the craft, creativity and joy of playwriting and theatre-making spanning the practical to the philosophical, the strategic to the aesthetic. Each episode will unpack theatrical concepts, dramaturgical tools, and creative inspiration for those who wish to explore, appreciate, and create plays. This is a podcast for lovers of theatre, creative writing, and storytelling.
On the charts
Every published chart this podcast appears in, in the snapshot behind this page. Each one links to the chart it came off.
From the feed
The latest episodes published to this podcast’s own RSS feed. Titles and descriptions are the publisher’s.
Lauren talks about writing and understanding dialogue. Let's unpack the difference between informational, emotional, musical, silent dialogue... and the power of profanity ;)
We discuss understanding, creating and perfecting the midpoints of our plays. Big stakes, big shifts, no turning back. Intro music by Joriah Kwame!
We talk about getting through the beginnings of your new play, how to start writing, getting through the first 30 pages, writers block, inspiration, and keeping things moving and interesting and vivacious.
Welcome back for Season 2 of HOW TO PLAYWRIGHT. We start with a Q+A before the launch of full episodes coming soon. Hosted by Lauren Gunderson Theme song by the brilliant Joriah Kwamé.
A special guest - my dad, Rev. Dr. Gary Gunderson - joins the podcast to discuss the powerful truths of theatre, theology, activism, art, public health, hope and healing. The shared root of the words "theatre" and "theology" is the Greek word "theasthai" which mean "to behold," and we discuss how both of us have explored the ways our vocations behold the ultimate to inspire, empower, and unify. My dad discusses my work in the theatre and his work as a man of faith/politics/health - including his now iconic book and philosophy "Leading Causes of Life" and the work of academic Bastienne Kline. We talk Greek theatre, new plays, old religions, fresh activism, congregations of all kinds, and how we can and must stand up for the good in the world.
Lauren talks about writing two handers and how this efficient form of dramatic writing tests your craft and technique as a playwright, while also preparing you to hone the basic skills for all other dramatic writing.
This episode is my lecture "Theatre as Thought Experiment" as given at Southern Utah University in 2024 and discusses the intersection of science and theatre, dramatic structure and scientific method, and the "laboratory of life" that great theatre offers us all.
We discuss the steps from First Draft to Opening Night and beyond in this episode all about a new play's journey through premiere to publishing and on and on. This one goes in the weeds a bit about what to expect in a rehearsal process, rewriting in production and what to do once you've had your premiere.
Let's talk about writing and developing and deepening characters in your plays. We explore main characters as well as side/supporting characters, and how the web of characters are kept taut through battle, contrast and compliment.
Lauren discusses starting plays at their endings - climactic endings, denoument, flavors of endings and more.
Lauren explores the "Muse of Fire" prologue from Shakespeare's HENRY V as a swift but inspiring lesson in theatre-making. Pro tips and beautiful poetry from William Shakespeare.
Lauren answers listener questions and covers rewriting, editing, career beginnings, how to define success and more. Hosted by Lauren M Gunderson Music by Joriah Kwamé
We discuss scene writing through dramatic structure but at the scenic level. Macro-structure, micro-structure, Mandelbrot, and musicals help us unpack how to write successful scenes for your new play.
A discussion of how to create compelling, energetic main characters that can fuel a great play with fervent and urgent wants, needs, complexities, and antagonistic forces. Hosted by Lauren M. Gunderson Original intro music by Joriah Kwamé
I take you with me before and after my favorite moment in any new play's life: the very first table reading of a never-before-heard new play. What do I listen for, what can writers learn from hearing it out loud for the first time, what good work comes out of this bountiful moment in development. Let's discuss! Thanks for listening! Hosted by Lauren Gunderson Original intro music by Joriah Kwamé
We dive right into a simplified discussion of ye olde dramatic structure, covering the general concepts of beginning/midpoint/ending in playwriting. We talk dramatic structure as begin akin to the scientific method, and how plays are "thought experiments." As usual I rant on "Hamlet," love stories, and architecture metaphors. Enjoy! and thanks for listening. Intro music by Joriah Kwamé.
Welcome! This is the first outing for "How To Playwright," in which I tell you a little of the why and the what of this podcast, as well as the "who is this for." To playwrite or playwright? Host: Lauren M. Gunderson Original theme music by the amazing Joriah Kwamé Watch the original pandemic playwrighting sessions and interviews here: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenGundersonPlaywright/videos
Ranking source
Apple Podcasts rankings via the Mato Topic Intelligence Platform.
Observed September 14, 2026. Cached outside the daily freshness window; the positions keep the date they were taken on.
Apple and Apple Podcasts are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Pairs with
Bring this source into Mato to read its transferable patterns, then turn them into an original show for your own audience.